Tank for containing liquids



March 1941- c. w. STANCLIFFE 3 47 TANK FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS Filed May 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 -Atlorney March 25, 1941. Q STANCLIFFE 2,236,347

TANK FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS Filed May 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3 50 I 54 I XB 55 A by M MVW Attorn ys Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES w en,

TANK FOR CONTAINING LIQUIDS Cecil Wheatley Stanclifie, Rochester, England,

assignor of one-half to Winget Limited, Rochester, England Application May 9, 1939, Serial No. 272,632 In Great Britain May 16, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention relates to tanks for containing liquids, and especially, though not exclusively, to the water tanks of machines, such as concrete mixers, which may have to be refilled from varions sources of supply at differing water pressures.

An object of the invention is to provide a tank having an inlet valve operated by the pressure of the supply on a piston of greater area than the valve, 2. pilot valve controlled by a ballfioat operating to admit and cut off the supply to this piston. This arrangement enables the tank to be filled to a constant level irrespective of the supply pressure.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a tank which can be emptied to a variable predetermined level through an outlet which is adjustable relatively to the tank. Preferably the tank is emptied through a flexible outlet tube in the tank the open end of which can be raised or lowered to determine the level to which the tank empties.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various new or improved I features, combinations or arrangements of parts of the improved tank which will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims. 00 In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the tank, 7 Fig. 2 is a section to an enlargedscale of the inlet valve,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the tank ar- 35 ranged so that the amount of water entering it can be weighed.

This form of the improved tank is especially suitable for use on portable concrete mixing .machines. It has an inlet valve l which is situated 43 near the top of the tank and comprises a casting 2 (or the equivalent) fixed inside the tank. A pipe 3 leading from'the source of supply is connected to the inlet to the valve casting 2 through the side wall 5 of the tank, awater- 45 tight joint being provided between the valve casting and'the tank-u An. air bottle 4 is includedin the inlet pipe 3 to absorb shock due to sudden closing of the valve.

chamber 8 in communication with the inlet pipe 3 from the water supply and an. outlet chamber I0 whichcommunicates through an aperture 55 in its wall with the interior of the tank. The

aperture connecting the outlet chamber It with the tank is at the end of the chamber nearest the partition I. The outlet chamber I0 is closed at its other end by a plate l2 and the partition 1 between the two chambers 8, It) is 5 pierced by a central aperture 9 formed with a valve seating l6 around its edge.

A loosely fitting piston I3 is movable in the outlet chamber and is mounted on a rod M which passes through the central aperture 9 in ,9, the partition I. A valve disc I5 preferably faced with rubber and of smaller diameter than the piston I3 is mounted on the end of this rod and in the closed position is pressed against the valve seating l6 by the pressure of the water supply. 1 The rod I4 extends also through the end wall |2 of the outlet chamber I0 and is threaded to receive a pair of lock nuts l1, l8 which can be adjusted to determine the opening movement of the piston.

Thevalve casting 2 is also formed with a side passage I9 which opens at one end through an aperture 20 intothe inlet chamber 8 and which communicates with the space between the piston l3 and the end wall l2 of the outlet cham- 25 ber through a pilot valve.

The end of the side passage I9 is closed by a member 22 through which passes the stem 23 of the pilot valve. A valve seating 24 is formed in this member 22 at the inner end and the member 22 is formed with a passage 25 of larger diameter than the valve stem 23 at this end. This passage 25 communicates with the space in'the outlet chamber In behind the piston l3 through a transverse passage 26 in the member 22 and an aperture .21 in the wall of the outlet chamber.

A valve disc 2| of relatively small diameter is mounted on the inner end of the valve stem 23 1 and cooperates with the valve seating 24. The

outer end of the valve stem is threaded to receivela knob 28 which can be adjusted on the stem and. locked in position by a knurled locknut 29.

A ball-float lever 30 is pivoted at its end about a pin 3| to the-valve casing and has an arm 32 extending substantially perpendicular to the lever 30 which abuts against the knob 23 on the valve stem 23. Downward movement of the ball- 9 The valve casting 2 comprises a cylindrical portion 6 divided by a partition 1 into an inlet float lever 30 moves the pilot valve off its seating. 9 f Assuming that the tank is empty and is to be filled from a source of water supply, the ballfloat lever 30 will be in its lowest position and,

V the pilot valve 2| will be open. The main inlet piston [3 will be towards the end wall l2 of the outlet chamber Hi.

If now the water supply is turned on, the water passes through the side passage l9, past the pilot valve 2| and into the space behind the loosel fitting piston I3. The inlet pressure is exerted on the loosely-fitting piston l3 and moves it so as to open the main inlet valve l5. A pressure in the opposite direction is, of course, exerted on the valve disc IE but as this is of less cross-sectional area than the piston l3, the piston will be moved to open the valve and allow the water to pass into the tank.

When the tank is filled to the desired level, the ball-float lever 30 rises and allows the pilot valve 2! to be closed by the water pressure behind it. The pressure in the space behind the piston is is thus removed and the main inlet valve I is moved by the water pressure to the closed position. The water behind the piston leaks away round its edge to permit this closing.

It will be seen that the valves close with the water pressure behind them whereas valves in common use close against the water pressure. This enables a constant water level to be carried in the tank irrespective of the water pressure.

As shown in Fig. 1, light springs 33, 34 may be provided on both the pilot valve and the main valve to assist'in closing the valves when the water pressure is low.

The tank is also provided with an outlet device which, when the main supply is cut off, can be adjusted so as to enable a given quantity of water to be drawn ofi. This is of especial importance in the water tanks of concrete mixing machines in which it is desirable to control accurately the water fed to the mixing drum.

The water tank has an outlet 40 towards the bottom to which is connected a pipe leading to the place to which the water is to be fed (for example to the mixing drum of a concrete mixer). A flexible pipe 42 lies inside the tank and is connected at one end to the bottom outlet so that water passing from the tank passes through this pipe.

The other end 45 of the pipe 42 is open and can be raised, by means of a cable 43 or the equivalent passing over pulleys 44 to the outside of the tank, to a position above the water level in the tank. In this position there will be no discharge of water.

When it is desired to discharge water from the tank the pipe 42 is lowered so that its open end 45 is beneath the water level. The water then runs out until its level has been lowered sufiigizently to uncover the open end 45 of the pipe The end of the tube 42 is preferably bent over as shown in Fig. 1 so that the open end 45 is directed downwardly. 0n the pipe 42 being immersed in the water, a siphoning action is started and full flow continues until the open end 45 is uncovered. When this occurs the siphon is broken and the flow from the tank ceases immediately.

The amount of water discharged is determined by the position of the open end of the pipe 42 and means may be provided to facilitate the lowering of the pipe to predetermined positions. For example stops may be provided on the chain 43 or a wall of the tank. may be of transparent material and a scale or the like provided on this wall. In the latter case, the tank may be used to indicate the level of the machine on which it is mounted.

As shown in Fig. 1, the position to which the pipe 42 is lowered is determined by the position of a lever 60 relatively to a quadrant scale El. The chain or cable 43 is connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 62, pivoted to the side of the tank at 63 and the other arm of this bell crank lever is connected by a link 64 to one end of the lever 60. The lever 60 is pivoted at the centre of the quadrant 6|. The position of the lever 60 thus determines the position of the pipe 42.

The quadrant scale 6| is provided with a stop 65 which can be adjusted to determine the ex tent to which the lever 6| can be depressed and thus the amount of water discharged from the tank.

A catch or pawl 66 is provided to hold the lever BI at the top of the quadrant in which position the open end of pipe 42 is above the water level in the tank. When water is required from the tank, the catch 66 is raised allowing the lever B! to fall back against the stop 65. The pipe 42 is thus lowered a predetermined amount and a predetermined amount of water is discharged from the tank.

The lever 62 may as shown be connected by a rope 61 to for example a mixer hopper so that the motion of the lever 62 (raising and lowering the pipe 42) is controlled by the lifting and lowering of the hopper. This arrangement permits water to be fed from the tank automatically at any desired moment as the hopper is raised. 1

A spring 68 is provided in the rope 61 to allow for variations in the distance between the hopper and the lever 62.

When this automatic control means is in use, the catch 66 is of course thrown back out of engagement.

If the tank is to be completely emptied,'th pipe 42 is dropped so as to lie on the bottom' of the tank.

It will be noted that this discharge of water is positive and does not depend upon any valve seats which under certain conditions are liable to dribble water after supposedly being cut off.

It will be clear that other equivalent devices, such as for example a telescopic tube, maybe used instead of the flexible tube. In all cases, the amount of water discharged is controlled by controlling the distance of the point of discharge below the water level in the tank.

In the tank illustrated in Fig. 1 means are provided to prevent the operation of the inlet valve whilst water is being withdrawn through the discharge pipe and until the discharge pipe is in its top position. Such means comprises a weighted cam pivoted at H so as to tend to hang vertically. When this cam 10 is vertical it engages the ball float lever 30 and holds it up in such a position that the inlet valve is not operated.

The flexible pipe 42 carries a projecting member 12 which in the raised position of the pipe 42 pushes the cam 10 to one side, (as shown in dotted lines) so that the ball float arm can fall and operate the inlet valve. When the pipe 42 is not in its top position, however, the cam ll becomes vertical and prevents fall of the ball float arm.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the tank is arranged so that the amount of water entering it can be weighed. The tank is movable and is suspended from one end 50 of a scale beam 5| movable about a iulcrum52. A weight 53 is provided on the other arm of the beam 5| and is movable along thejbeam. An inlet valve 54 substantially similar to that 5 previously described is provided for the tank and the lever arm 55 is suspended by a chain 51 or the equivalent from a fixed point 58. When the tank is empty, it will rise because the scale beam 5| will be tipped about its fulcrum 52 by the weight 53. This action lowers the lever arm 55 relatively to the tank and water enters the tank through the valve 54.

When sufficient water has entered the tank to balance the scale beam 5|, .the tank will fall thereby causing the lever arm 55 to rise relatively to the tank and shut off the supply of water. The quantity of water entering the tank is dependent on the balance weight 53 and its position on the scale beam 5| and may be adjusted to a predetermined value by shifting the balance weight or by altering the balance weight.

The tank may be provided with flexible or suitable discharge means through which the water is discharged to another container or to a concrete mixer.

In other forms, the movement of the scale beam 5| may be arranged to actuate electrical or other means to close the pilot valve of the inlet valve 54 when a maximum weight of water has flown into the tank.

Whilst a preferred form of the improved tank has been described above, it will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the details thereof, modification of these details being 5' possible within the broad aspects of the invention.

The pilot valve of the inlet valve to the tank may for example be so designed as to pass through the centre of the main valve instead of being located to one side as described above.

I claim:

1. A tank for containing liquids comprising an inlet valve to control the supply of liquid to the tank, a piston of greater area than the valve moved by the pressure of the liquid supply to open the valve, a pilot valve controlling the supply of liquid to this piston, means to maintain the pilot valve in an open position whilst the liquid in the tank is below a predetermined amount and to shut the pilot valve automatically when the liquid in the tank reaches this predetermined amount to cut off the supply pressure from the piston, a pipe connected to an outlet towards the bottom end of the tank and having an open end, means for raising this open end above the level of the liquid in the tank to prevent discharge therefrom, and for lowering this open end below the liquid level to allow liquid to be discharged from the tank until the 0 open end of the pipe is uncovered, and means operated by the raising means for said discharge pipe and cooperating with said inlet valve control means to prevent inlet of liquid to the tank whilst the discharge pipe is in other than its uppermost position.

2. The combination of a tank for containing liquid, a liquid inlet valve connected to the tank, an outlet from the tank having a vertically movable liquid intake within the tank, and means interconnecting the inlet valve and said liquid intake preventing the entry of liquid through said valve while the intake is in a discharging position in its zone of movement.

3. A tank for containing liquids and for delivering predetermined quantities from a supply comprising-an inlet valve, meansoperated by the liquid pressure to hold the inlet valve open and permit admission of liquid, means to close the inlet valve when a predetermined upper level is reached, an adjustable outlet of which the 5 position determines the quantity of water discharged from the tank, and means carried by the adjustable outlet cooperating with the means to close the inlet valve to prevent letting in of water to the tank when the outlet is in any 1 position except its uppermost.

4, A tank for containing liquids and for delivering predetermined quantities from a supply,

comprising an inlet valve, liquid level-responsive means subject to the rise and. fall of the liquid 15 level in the tank and thereby operable respectively to close and open the inlet valve, an outlet for the tank having an intake in the tank adjustable as to altitude, and means mutually embodied in said level-responsive means and the 20 adjustable intake to lock the inlet valve against its opening when said intake is in any position except its uppermost.

5. A tank for containing liquids and for delivering predetermined quantities from a supply, 25 comprising an inlet valve, liquid level-responsive means subject to the rise and fall of the liquid level in the tank and thereby operable respectively to close and open the inlet valve, an outlet for the tank having an intake in the tank 30 adjustable as to altitude, gravity-operated means holding said level-responsive means against response to a descending liquid level resulting from a lowering adjustment of said intake, thereby maintaining the closure of the inlet valve, and

means carried by said intake displacing said gravity-operated means only in an uppermost position of said intake thus to release said levelresponsive means for the opening of the inlet valve. 4

6. The combination of a tank for containing a liquid, a liquid inlet valve connected to the tank, being contrived for automatic closure and mechanical opening, level-responsive means operable by a rising level to permit the closure of 45 said valve and by a fallen level to cause the opening of said valve, an outlet having a liquid intake within the tank, means operable externally of the tank for adjusting the altitude of said intake to any stage between top and bottom 50 extremes, and control means between the adjustable intake and said level-responsive means, assuming a loose-coupled position in any but the top adjustment of the intake thereby to lock the level-responsive means against response to 55 a descending liquid level and assuming an intercoupled position in the top adjustment of the intake thereby to unlock the level-responsive means for a free fall to the low liquid level.

'7. The combination of a tank for containing 60 a liquid, a liquid inlet valve connected to the tank, being contrived for automatic closure and mechanical opening, level-responsive means operable by a rising level to permit the closure 01 said valve and by a fallen level to cause the 65 opening of said valve, an outlet having a liquid intake within the tank, means operable externally of the tank for adjusting the altitude of said intake to any stage between top and bottom extremes, control means between the adjustable iritake and said level-responsive means, assuming a loose-coupled position in any but the top adjustment of the intake thereby to lock the level-responsive means against response to a descending liquid level and assuming an inter- 75 coupled position in the top adjustment of the intake thereby to unlock the level-responsive means for a free fall to the low liquid level, and means working in connection with said externally operable means for determining the vari ous altitudes of said liquid intake hence of the liquid level.

8. A tank for containing liquids comprising an inlet valve to control the supply of liquid to the tank, a piston of greater area than the valve moved by the pressure of the liquid supply to open the valve, a pilot valve controlling the supply of liquid to this piston, means to maintain the pilot valve n an open position whilst the liquid in the tank is below a predetermined amount and to shut the pilot valve automatically when the liquid in the tank reaches this predetermined amount to cut off the supply pressure from the piston, a pipe connected to an outlet towards the bottom end of the tank and having an open end, means for raising this open end above the level of the liquid in the tank to prevent discharge therefrom, and for lowering this open end below the liquid level to allow liquid to be discharged from the tank until the open end of the pipe is uncovered, the arrangement being such that the amount of liquid discharged from the tank is determined by the distance to which the open end is lowered beneath the original liquid level, and means interconnected between the pilot valve and said means for raising and lowering the discharge pipe so as to prevent operation of the inlet valve whilst liquid is being discharged from the tank.

CECIL WHEATLEY STANCLIFFE. 

